Nyngan
A 21.2% vacancy rate and a $253,000 median house price make Nyngan one of the most affordable owner-occupier markets in western NSW, though both figures tell the same story: population has been falling. The town recorded 1,953 residents at census, down 11.9% over the decade, with an annual decline of about 60 people. Household income sits at the 42.2nd percentile nationally, and SEIFA scores place it in decile 3 on both IRSD and IRSAD, indicating meaningful disadvantage compared to state and national averages. Mining and education together employ over a third of the local workforce, an unusual combination that reflects the region's economic structure.
Population
1,953
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,428/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
Median House
$253K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a median house price of $253,000, Nyngan sits far below state and national medians, making entry costs accessible for buyers priced out of urban markets. Prices edged up from $250,000 in 2024 to $260,000 in 2025, a 4% gain over one year, though the base is low by any comparison. Separate houses dominate at 92.3% of dwellings, meaning buyers have a clear stock profile to work with, mostly three-bedroom homes (43.3% of dwellings) or four-plus bedroom homes (33.7%). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership is high at 40.9%, suggesting many long-term residents have paid off their properties, a sign of stability in tenure if not in population.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $253,000, Nyngan sits far below state and national medians, making entry costs accessible for buyers priced out of urban markets. Prices edged up from $250,000 in 2024 to $260,000 in 2025, a 4% gain over one year, though the base is low by any comparison. Separate houses dominate at 92.3% of dwellings, meaning buyers have a clear stock profile to work with, mostly three-bedroom homes (43.3% of dwellings) or four-plus bedroom homes (33.7%). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership is high at 40.9%, suggesting many long-term residents have paid off their properties, a sign of stability in tenure if not in population.
For Investors
The 21.2% vacancy rate is the dominant risk factor for investors, sitting far above healthy rental market benchmarks and indicating that roughly one in five properties sits empty. Weekly rent is $200, and the rent-to-income ratio of 14.0% means tenants are not under pressure to leave, but the pool of prospective renters is constrained by a declining population. Approximately 33.4% of households rent, providing a base tenant segment. Net internal migration averages negative 51 persons per year, while overseas migration adds only 16, leaving a structural demand shortfall. Development activity recorded 21 applications in the past 12 months, consistent with modest activity rather than growth pressure. The investment case requires a long horizon and tolerance for vacancy risk in exchange for very low entry prices.
Development Activity
Total DAs
129
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Nyngan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Marra Creek Public School
K-6 · 8 students
St Joseph's Parish School
K-6 · 114 students
Nyngan High School
7-12 · 144 students
Nyngan Public School
K-6 · 131 students
Demographics
The median age in Nyngan is 41, roughly equal to the national figure, but the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.8 points and the young adult share fell 3.6 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents make up just 6.5% of the population, which is 15.1 percentage points below the national average, pointing to a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (751 residents), Irish (225) and Scottish (123). University qualifications reach 20.5%, sitting 9.6 points below the national figure because the occupational mix skews toward trades and services rather than professional roles. The average household size of 2.4 is close to the national average, and couples with children (584 families) outnumber couples without children (421 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.3%
Houses
6.2%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed toward outright ownership: 40.9% own their home outright compared to 25.7% with a mortgage, a pattern consistent with a long-established community with limited recent turnover. Renters account for 33.4% of households. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.3%, far higher than the state average, with semi-detached at 6.2% and apartments at just 0.8%. Three-bedroom homes form the largest share at 43.3%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 33.7%. Prices rose 4.0% from $250,000 in 2024 to $260,000 in 2025, though the median of $253,000 remains one of the lowest entry points in regional NSW. Resident turnover is moderate at 19.3%, with 80.7% of residents remaining at the same address, suggesting a stable but slowly contracting community.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$770
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.2%
Unoccupied
209
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.6%
Couples, no children
1,473
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining leads employment at 18.5% of the workforce (98 workers), followed closely by Education at 18.1% (96 workers) and Healthcare at 15.7% (83 workers), together accounting for over half of local jobs. Agriculture and Public Administration each contribute 11.0% (58 workers), rounding out the five dominant industries. By occupation, Professionals (140), Machinery Operators and Drivers (139) and Labourers (136) are nearly equal in size, a spread that reflects the mining and agricultural character alongside the education and health services. The unemployment rate is 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 73.0%. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 3 on both IRSD and IRSAD, indicating disadvantage relative to the national distribution, consistent with the household income ranking at the 42.2nd percentile.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
2,160
Unemployed
66
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
73.0%
Part-time
23.0%
Participation
57.8%
Employed
881
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.5%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
6.5%
Dwellings
755
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 75.3% of residents driving to work compared to the national average, reflecting the town's remote location approximately 590 km west of Sydney. Public transport accounts for 6.7% of commutes and walking or cycling for 8.3%. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on regional services. SEIFA places Nyngan at IRSAD decile 3, indicating it ranks below average nationally on the combined index of advantage and disadvantage. The volunteering rate is 20.5%, above typical urban rates, which points to strong community participation given the population size. Mortgage stress is low at 17.5% of income, and rent stress is absent at 14.0%, meaning housing costs are manageable for those already living here.
Drive
75.3%
Public Transport
6.7%
Walk / Cycle
8.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-1.32%/yr
(-60 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has been declining for over a decade: the 10-year change was negative 11.9%, and the current trend projects a further loss of around 60 persons per year. Medium-scenario forecasts put the SA2 population at approximately 4,127 by 2031, down from 4,561 in 2024. The suburb did not recover from its COVID-period dip, sitting 1.5% below pre-COVID levels. Net internal migration averages negative 51 per year, the primary driver of decline, while overseas migration adds only 16. Rent grew 48.1% over the decade, and real income grew 27.6%, both faster than the national rate of affordability improvement, but that growth has not attracted population. The gentrification score is low and the trajectory remains an aging, slow-shrinking market rather than a turning point.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+16
Net Internal / yr
-51
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Nyngan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nyngan a good suburb to live in?
Nyngan offers affordable housing with a $253,000 median house price and low housing stress, with mortgage repayments at 17.5% of income. SEIFA places it at decile 3 on IRSAD, below the national average for advantage, reflecting limited local services and a declining population of around 1,953 residents. It suits those with employment in mining, education or healthcare.
What is the median house price in Nyngan?
The median house price is $253,000, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices rose 4% from $250,000 in 2024 to $260,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083 and weekly rent is $200, both far below the NSW state median, making it one of the most affordable markets in western NSW.
What schools are in Nyngan?
No schools are recorded inside the Nyngan suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools within the broader Nyngan township and Bogan Shire region. University qualifications among residents reach 20.5%, which is 9.6 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and services occupational mix.
Is Nyngan safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Nyngan in this dataset. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores decile 3 on SEIFA IRSAD, below the national average for advantage, which tends to correlate with higher crime rates in other regional towns. The low population density of 0.9 persons per km2 across 2,142 sq km limits urban crime patterns.
Is Nyngan good for property investment?
The 21.2% vacancy rate is the critical risk factor, meaning roughly 1 in 5 properties sits empty, far above typical healthy market thresholds. Weekly rent of $200 against a $253,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, above many capital city markets, but negative net internal migration of around 51 people per year constrains demand growth.
How is Nyngan's population changing?
Population fell 11.9% over the past decade, with an annual decline of about 60 persons. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population to fall from 4,561 in 2024 to approximately 4,127 by 2031. Net internal migration averages negative 51 per year, while overseas migration adds only 16, resulting in a structural and ongoing population decline.
How much development is happening in Nyngan?
There were 21 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivisions, pool installations and sheds. This level is modest relative to the population of 1,953, consistent with a stable rather than growth-oriented market. The 4% price rise from 2024 to 2025 suggests some local demand despite the declining population trend.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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